I remember conversations with Sharon about adoption right after we got married. It was never an idea either one of us was closed off to. We both entertained the idea as a possibility for our family one day. God gave us our daughter, Evey, in 2002 and she has certainly been a blessing. After that, we pushed the thoughts of adoption out of our minds for some time. In, 2006 we moved to Texas so that I could go to seminary. Through the providence of God, Sharon and I both were able to take our first international mission trip to Zimbabwe where we were blessed to visit and work with orphans for a few days. I say blessed because the Holy Spirit opened our eyes to the suffering and loss experienced by these children. They were well taken care of, but nearly all of them had lost their parents to AIDS or political violence. We talked about adoption once again but no action. I thought it was disappointing that Zimbabwe does not allow adoption by Americans and prayed that one day it would open to us.
A year later adoption was on our minds again as we waited months for God to give us another child and began to think maybe we would never have another child. When Sharon finally did become pregnant, our joy was short lived as we walked through the emotions and heartbreak of losing a child in a miscarriage. I think we are both still processing that in our lives today, seeking to understand how God will use the death of that child for his glory. Since then, in August of 2009, God has blessed us with a son, Dash. Shortly after Sharon became pregnant with Dash, Southwestern Journal published an issue focusing on adoption. With it in front of us once more we talked again and said to each other, "one day, maybe."
Right after Dash was born, we had to seriously evaluate our willingness to adopt when Sharon's unwed teenage cousin became pregnant. Someone in the family asked us if we would consider adopting the child should the mother decide that was the best course of action. We agreed, and truth be told, we were disappointed that she decided to keep the child. We were not mad at her. We love her and we understand and respect her decision, but for us the idea of raising another child was a thrill and I think we both wanted that opportunity.
In January 2010, the 7.0 earthquake hit Haiti and only days afterward the news was filled with stories and images of orphans and the urgency to place them with adopting families. This was fresh on the heals of dealing with the prospect of adopting within our family. Several publications I read during this time had articles about adoption. I began to think to myself, "If we were willing to do it only weeks ago because there was a child entering our family in need, why not do it now?" Then Pastor Nathan posted a brief blog on adoption which Sharon also read. That started the conversation again.
We were in the car on our way to do some shopping in Katy and have dinner with my cousin when Sharon asked me if I was still open to our family adopting. I told her I was all for it, it was biblical (which I will discuss later), and that I had a strong conviction that God was telling us to pursue it. After all, we were ready to do it immediately weeks ago, so why not now? She was shocked, thinking that it would take more convincing than that. In fact, she had been under the same conviction. Just to be sure, she asked if she had my permission to start researching the process. I agreed.
It was a step of faith. Plain and simple. When I look back at the events that lead up to that moment it is so obvious that God was preparing us for it and slowly and lovingly pulling us toward that decision. I couldn't see it until every piece was in place and I certainly don't know where it will end up, but I know God will lead the way. Just the simple step of faith, of saying "Yes, Lord, I will seek out and bring one of your lost and abandoned children into our family and they will be one of us," has brought me closer to God. When I think about it, that is exactly what Jesus did for me. Christ pulled me out of a hopeless and helpless situation (lost in sin and separated from God) and made me a child of the Creator of all things. Now, I call him Lord and strive to be his disciple, learning his ways and letting him make me into the image of himself. Should I not also do as he has done for me? It's the right thing to do. God wants to make adoption a part of our life journey and we are excited about following him down that path. Please continue to join us in praying for God's provision and wisdom as we have taken the first initial steps in this journey.
